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Pauline Ferrand-prévot Eyes Time Trial Domination in 2026 Tour de France Femmes
August 1, 2023
Fresh off her triumphant victory in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes, Olympic mountain bike champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot is already setting her sights on an even tougher challenge: conquering the time trial. While many might expect her to rest on her laurels,Ferrand-Prévot is embracing the prospect of a more demanding race,believing it will elevate the competition to new heights.
“It will be harder because everyone will wont to raise the level a notch, but that’s what I prefer: that the battle is tough and that everyone is at 100%,” Ferrand-Prévot stated during a recent team meeting in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands. She added, “So it’s going to be engaging, especially if we have a time trial. It would be good to be able to judge myself on a time trial.”
This desire to test herself against the clock comes as a bit of a surprise, as the time trial hasn’t been a prominent feature in her recent successes. Without extensive benchmarks for this specific discipline,Ferrand-Prévot is,in essence,charting new territory. However, as former rider Marion Rousse points out, Ferrand-Prévot is no ordinary athlete.
“Pauline is a special case,” Rousse emphasized. “When you see that she is capable of winning Paris-Roubaix the same year that she won the Tour de France, you tell yourself that she is capable of winning on all terrains. I don’t think it’s annoying for her. It is certain that it is an exercise that must be worked on, but that all the competitors will have to work on.”
This sentiment is echoed by Rutger Tijssen, Ferrand-Prévot’s manager at visma | Lease a Bike. He expressed confidence in her ability to adapt and excel, drawing parallels to her performance in longer mountain climbs.
“It’s cool, I’m not worried,” Tijssen said. “It was the same thing this year when she had never done a climb of more than an hour like on the Madeleine. Provided that we give her time to prepare for something and have a structured plan, I believe she can do it. I’m not saying that she would win an individual time trial or a team time trial, but it’s certain that she will manage to be among the vrey best. Certainly.”
The inclusion of a time trial in the 2026 Tour de France Femmes presents a fascinating dynamic. For American cycling fans, accustomed to the dramatic time trials in the men’s Tour de France and other major races like the Giro d’Italia, this adds another layer of intrigue to the women’s event. Think of it like a quarterback adding a new, complex play to their playbook – it requires precision, power, and strategic execution.
While some might question whether Ferrand-Prévot, a dominant force in varied terrains, can truly master the specialized demands of time trialing against dedicated specialists, her track record speaks volumes. Her ability to win grueling classics like Paris-Roubaix, frequently enough decided by sheer grit and tactical brilliance, suggests an adaptability that few possess. This isn’t just about raw power; it’s about mental fortitude and the capacity to execute a plan under immense pressure – qualities that translate across disciplines.
The anticipation for August 4, 2026, when the 2026 Tour de France femmes is set to unfold, is palpable. Will Pauline Ferrand-Prévot add another dimension to her already legendary career by mastering the time trial? Her confidence and the belief of her team suggest that we are in for a thrilling spectacle,where the battle for the yellow jersey will be more intense than ever.
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